Van Meir Onions has gone on a study trip with a delegation of 27 people to New Zealand. With their consent, we will publish their Facebook updates of the trip.
18 January
And we have left! On a study trip to New Zealand, where we will be travelling around to visit companies for the next 2 weeks. 23 visits are on the program, divided over the 2 islands. Friday, we will arrive in Auckland where we will begin our travels. Keep an eye on our page for updates from New Zealand!!
20 January
Today we have arrived in New Zealand and we have visited our first business. This is Balle Bros in Pukehoke. This company has 3000 acres of which 1100 acres with onions. Some of the onions are still harvested by hand. The greens are cut off with a pair of scissors and then the onions are put in crates by hand. Due to some delay, we could only visit the packing station and there was no more time to visit the land.
21 January
Today we visited three companies in the area around Pukehoke. This area has about 10,000 hectares of proper soil. This is the earliest area in which onions were produced in New Zealand.
We have visited Reynolds Farm. This company produces onions, potatoes, pumpkins, and kiwi fruits. The company sorts and packs its own products. The kiwi fruits are stored and produced at a central cooperating packing station. The second company we visited was Hinemoa. This is a traditional family farm as we know in the Netherlands. This company has about 300 hectares, of which 160 are for the production of onions, potatoes, and grains. They produce Agria potatoes among others.
The third company we visited was Growers ltd. At this company, we saw the mechanical harvest of onions and potatoes.
22 January
Today we drove from Auckland to Napier. We visited a Maori village and a waterfall during the trip.
23/24 January
On Monday, we visited Aputa Farm. This is an agricultural business in the area of Napier. The company produces on 1500 hectares. The production plans consist of the following plants: onions, potatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins, tomatoes for Heinz, and grapes. In addition, they keep 50,000 lambs on the farm. They have been producing onions for just 30 years. The onion production happens on a 1 in 4 ratio. The potatoes and onions are processed on their own terrain.
After this, we visited Bostock Farm. This is a company that produces organic vegetables as well as conventional products. They have been producing organic apples for 30 years and organic corn and pumpkins as well. The apples are exported mainly to the United States. The company processes all products themselves.
On Tuesday, we visited the business of the Steenkamer family. They have an agricultural business and a sheep/cow fattening farm. The cattle company is located in the mountains and comprises of 2000 acres, 3500 sheep, 2500 lambs, 300 fattening cows, and about 300 calves. In the valley, they have 80 hectares of onions, 20 hectares of potatoes and melons. The potatoes and onions are sorted on their own terrain. All potatoes and a part of the onions are sold at the local market. They also produces onions that are used for sowing in the next year. The potatoes are mainly Agrias. The company had a field of potatoes growing on the top of the mountain.